Baker Mayfield Returns as Buccaneers Visit Bears on Sunday Night Football
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield returned for the Buccaneers' Week 9 game at Chicago after missing three games. Tampa Bay is 3-5, Emeka Egbuka is back from a foot injury, and Mike Tirico is out of the broadcast booth.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was set to start Sunday Night Football in Chicago in Week 9 of the NFL season, with the team at 3-5 and second in the NFC South. He missed three games after hurting himself in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Buccaneers have won both games since he came back. Their defense has led the way, according to a pre-game injury report.
Mayfield's return gives Tampa Bay a chance to climb back into the division race. There is, as one report put it, plenty of football left to play.
Injury news on both sides
Neither team listed any major injuries before kickoff. For Tampa Bay, receiver Emeka Egbuka was set to play after missing the last two games with a foot injury. That is a lift for the offense.
The Bears have been fairly healthy since quarterback Caleb Williams returned a few weeks ago. Chicago also added help on defense by trading for Jeffery Simmons.
Tirico out of the booth
NBC's Mike Tirico will miss the broadcast because of a health issue. He announced it himself.
"Unfortunately, I will have to miss tonight's game in Chicago due to a health issue," Tirico wrote. He said he looks forward to rejoining the team "next Sunday night in Cincinnati."
Noah Eagle is set to call the game alongside Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark.
Family on the sideline
Mayfield's wife, Emily Mayfield, posted a gallery of photos and videos from the season on Instagram this week. She captioned it "My people," followed by three hearts.
One photo shows her kissing Baker. Others show the couple with their children. One video shows Baker leaving the field and being hugged by his young daughter, who runs up to him.
Emily also shared photos from what appeared to be a large Buccaneers watch party with a group of friends. She wrote, "Love this girl gang." One follower replied that she was "such a good connector and lover of the women God places in your life."
The couple married in July 2019 after meeting through a mutual friend in 2017. They have a daughter, Kova Jade, born in April 2024, and a son, Maverick Thorne, born this April.
Tampa Bay's next scheduled game after Chicago has not been announced in the reports.
